Woman sues two Johnson County nursing homes after mother dies of bedsore complications

A woman is suing two Johnson County nursing homes and a Missouri nonprofit that manages several senior facilities after her mother died of bedsore-related complications, according to court documents filed in November.

The plaintiff, Rene Davis, alleges that her mother, Judy Todtenhausen, developed a pressure ulcer at Two Trails Healthcare in Olathe that worsened after she was transferred to Villa St. Joseph in Overland Park.

Davis is also suing Ascension Health, a healthcare nonprofit that manages Villa St. Joseph, also called Ascension Living St. Joseph Place.

Both homes failed to prevent Todtenhausen’s skin condition from developing and worsening, according to the court documents.

The lawsuit alleges that the senior care facilities were negligent in several aspects, including failing to provide necessary 24-hour supervision and neglecting to reposition the patient every two hours. The plaintiff claims Todtenhausen’s bedsore wound was not properly treated by medical intervention at either facility.

Todtenhausen died after complications from the “avoidable” bedsore that formed and worsened while she was in residential care.

The worsening of Todtenhausen’s condition was also not adequately and timely reported to a physician, as is required procedure, the documents state.

Villa St. Joseph was allegedly not properly staffed by employees who could care for Todtenhausen’s wounds, nor did it have appropriate protocol for dealing with pressure ulcers in place. As a result, the plaintiff is suing Ascension Health, which manages clinics and residential facilities in more than 20 states.

“At no point … did any staff member ever implement the appropriate policies and procedures at the Facility regarding the assessment, prevention, use of interventions, monitoring, and reporting of pressure ulcers in residents like [Todtenhausen],” the documents read.

The plaintiff is suing for wrongful death and liability and is requesting a trial by jury.

Davis is represented by Jonathan Steele, a nursing home abuse attorney in Kansas City, Missouri.

Neither the plaintiff’s representation nor the defendants replied to a request for comment.